Wideband splitter

ABSTRACT

A wideband splitter includes an input port configured to receive an input signal; two or more output ports configured to output the input signal. The wideband splitter is capable of splitting the input signal and transmitting the split input signal to the output ports across a frequency band ranging from approximately 5 MHz to 3000 MHz.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 63/065,603, filed Aug. 14, 2020, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to CATV distribution systemsand more specifically, to a signal splitter device for the distributionand combining of CATV signals.

BACKGROUND

Cable Television (CATV) systems may carry content (e.g., televisioncontent) across a range of frequency bands and channels. As more CATVservices become available, the greater the demand for a higher range offrequency bands.

CATV systems (e.g., in residential and/or non-residential environments)may include splitters that include an input to receive an input signal,and multiple outputs. The outputs may connect to CATV network compatibledevices (e.g., televisions, television equipment, set-top-boxes,broadband network devices, etc.) such that these devices can connect tothe CATV network from a single input connection to a customer premises.Effective splitters pass signals at the frequency bands at which theCATV network operates. Thus, as the range of frequency bands at which aCATV operates increases or becomes wider, an effective splitter shouldpass signals at the wider frequency bands. Splitters may be constructedfrom magnetic materials (e.g., ferrites) which may perform relativelywell in splitting signals at relatively lower frequencies (e.g., below1000 to 1600 megahertz (MHz)). A Wilkson splitter splits an input signalinto two equal phase output signals, or combines two equal-phase signalinto one in the opposite direction.

SUMMARY

In one example aspect, a wideband splitter includes: an input port; afirst splitter; a second splitter; a first diplexer; a second diplexer;a third diplexer; a first output port; and a second output port. Theinput port is coupled to the first diplexer and transmits an inputsignal received at the input port to the first diplexer; a low-pass nodeof the first diplexer is coupled to the first splitter and transmits theinput signal at a first frequency band to the first splitter; ahigh-pass node of the first diplexer is coupled to the second splitterand transmits the input signal at a second frequency band to the secondsplitter; the first splitter is coupled to a low-pass node of the seconddiplexer and to a low-pass node of the third diplexer and transmitssignals of the first frequency band to the second diplexer and to thethird diplexer; the second splitter is coupled to a high-pass node ofthe second diplexer and to a high-pass node of the third diplexer andtransmits signals of the second frequency band to the second diplexerand to the third diplexer; the second diplexer is coupled to the firstoutput port and combines the signals of the first and second frequencybands received from the first splitter and the second splitter; and thethird diplexer is coupled to the second output port and combines thesignals of the first and second frequency bands received from the firstsplitter and the second splitter.

In an example aspect, a wideband splitter includes: an input port; afirst splitter; a second splitter; a first diplexer; a second diplexer;a third diplexer; a first output port; and a second output port. Theinput port is coupled to the first diplexer and transmits an inputsignal to the first diplexer; a low-pass node transmits the input signalat a first frequency band to the first splitter; a high-pass node of thefirst diplexer transmits the input signal at a second frequency band tothe second splitter; the first splitter transmits signals of the firstfrequency band to the second diplexer and to the third diplexer; thesecond splitter transmits signals of the second frequency band to thesecond diplexer and to the third diplexer; the second diplexer combinesthe signals of the first and second frequency bands received from thefirst splitter and the second splitter; and the third diplexer combinesthe signals of the first and second frequency bands received from thefirst splitter and the second splitter.

In an example aspect, a wideband splitter includes an input portconfigured to receive an input signal; two or more output portsconfigured to output the input signal. The wideband splitter is capableof splitting the input signal and transmitting the split input signal tothe output ports across a frequency band ranging from approximately 5MHz to 3000 MHz or higher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates an overview of an example wideband splitter inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a wideband 4-way splitter inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example of a wideband 4-way splitter inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graph of example performance measurements of thewideband splitter illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 illustrates a layout of an example Wilkinson power divider thatmay be used in accordance with of aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Effective splitters pass signals at the frequency bands at which theCATV network operates. More specifically, an “effective” splitter is asplitter that minimizes through loss of signals traveling from the inputport to the output ports, and maximizes return loss of at each port.Thus, as the range of frequency bands at which a CATV operates increasesor becomes wider, an effective splitter should minimize through loss ofsignals at the wider frequency bands traveling from the input port tothe output ports, while also maximizing return loss.

Splitters may be constructed from magnetic materials (e.g., ferrites)which may perform relatively well in splitting signals at relativelylower frequencies (e.g., below 1000 MHz). However, at relatively higherfrequency ranges (e.g., above 1000 MHz), the performance offerrite-based splitters may degrade significantly. Addressing thisdegradation using ferrites may be extremely costly and difficult tomanufacture. A Wilkinson splitter may perform relatively well insplitting signals at relatively higher frequencies (e.g., above 1000MHz), but may perform relatively poorly at lower frequencies.Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may include a widebandsplitter that leverages both a ferrite splitter and a Wilkinson splitterto split an input signal across a relatively wide frequency band (e.g.,approximately 5 MHz to 3000 MHz or greater).

As described herein, the wideband splitter, in accordance with aspectsof the present disclosure, combines the strengths of ferrite andWilkinson splitters by a coupling technique. With such an approach,these two splitters are split at the input and their outputs arerecombined via diplexing or other coupling techniques. Morespecifically, aspects of the present disclosure may include a ferritesplitter to split signals at a first frequency band (e.g., a relativelylow frequency band), and Wilkinson splitter to split signals at secondfrequency band (e.g., a relatively high frequency band). These splitsignals may then be recombined to form output signals that pass both lowand high frequency band signals at relatively low through loss.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings and figures. In thefollowing detailed description, numerous specific details are set forthin order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However,it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention may be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, andnetworks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarilyobscure aspects of the embodiments.

FIG. 1A illustrates an overview of an example wideband splitter inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1A,a wideband splitter 100 may include an input port (IN-1) and two outputports (OUT-1 and OUT-2). As described herein, the wideband splitter 100may be located at a customer premise and split a single input connectioninto two connections (e.g., to connect two CATV network compatibledevices to the single input connection). In some embodiments, the inputport and the output ports may be coaxial cable connections or othertypes of connections. In some embodiments, the input port may receive asignal (e.g., an RF cable signal) from a CATV network. For example, theinput port may be connected directly to the CATV network, or viaadditional splitters and components.

As further shown in FIG. 1A, the wideband splitter 100 may include afirst coupling unit (e.g., first diplexer 102), a first splitter (e.g.,a ferrite splitter 104), a second splitter (e.g., a Wilkinson splitter106), a second coupling unit (e.g., second diplexer 108), and a thirdcoupling unit (e.g., third diplexer 110). As further shown in FIG. 1A,the input port may be coupled to a common node 102-1 of the diplexer102. A low-pass (LP) node of the diplexer 102 may be coupled to a commonnode 104-1 of the ferrite splitter 104, and a high-pass (HP) node of thediplexer 102 may be coupled to a common node 106-1 of the Wilkinsonsplitter 106. A first output 104-2 of the ferrite splitter 104 may becoupled to a LP node of the diplexer 108, and a second output 104-3 ofthe ferrite splitter 104 may be coupled to a LP node of the diplexer110. A first output 106-2 of the Wilkinson splitter 106 may be coupledto a HP node of the diplexer 108, and a second output 106-3 of theWilkinson splitter 106 may be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer 110.

In some embodiments, the common node 102-1 may receive an input signalvia the input port IN-1. As described herein, the input signal may be awideband signal having frequencies ranging from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz, orgreater. The diplexer 102 may split the input signal into low-pass andhigh-pass signals. As previously discussed, the ferrite splitter 104 mayperform relatively well (e.g., meet or exceed through loss and returnloss performance thresholds) when splitting low-frequency signals (e.g.,signals 111 within a first frequency band 111). The Wilkinson splitter106 may perform relatively well (e.g., meet or exceed through loss andreturn loss performance thresholds) when splitting high-frequencysignals (e.g., signals within a second frequency band). Accordingly, thelow-pass signals 111 (e.g., in the first frequency band) may betransmitted to the ferrite splitter 104 via the common node 104-1. Thehigh-pass signals 113 (e.g., in the second frequency band) may betransmitted to the Wilkinson splitter 106 via the common node Wilkinsonsplitter 106-1.

The ferrite splitter 104 may split the signals 111 in the firstfrequency band and output the signals via the output ports 104-2 and104-3 to the LP node of the diplexer 108 and the LP node of the diplexer110, respectively. The Wilkinson splitter 106 may split the signals 113in the second frequency band and output the signals via the output ports106-2 and 106-3 to the HP node of the diplexer 108 and the HP node ofthe diplexer 110, respectively. The diplexer 108 may combine thelow-pass signals 111 from the output port 104-2 and the high-passsignals 113 from the output port 106-2 to form a signal 117 having boththe first and second frequency bands, transmitted via the output portOUT-1. The diplexer 110 may combine the low-pass signals 111 from theoutput port 104-3 and the high-pass signals 113 from the output port106-3 to form a signal 115 having both the first and second frequencybands, transmitted via the output port OUT-2. In this way, the twooutput ports OUT-1 and OUT-2 carry signals 115, 117 with both the firstand second frequency band. In some embodiments, the first frequency bandmay include frequencies from 5 MHz to 1000 MHz, and the second frequencyband may include frequencies from 1000 MHz to 3000 MHz, or greater.Thus, the wideband splitter 100, described herein, splits the inputwideband signal having frequencies ranging from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz, orgreater to two output signals 115, 117.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a wideband 4-way splitter inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1B,the wideband splitter 100 may include a first coupling unit (e.g., firstdiplexer 102), a first splitter (e.g., a ferrite splitter 104), a secondsplitter (e.g., a Wilkinson splitter 106), a second coupling unit (e.g.,second diplexer 108), a third coupling unit (e.g., third diplexer 110),a fourth coupling unit (e.g., fourth diplexer 112), and a fifth couplingunit (e.g., fifth diplexer 114). As further shown in FIG. 1B, an inputport IN-1 may be coupled to a common node 102-1 of the diplexer 102. ALP node of the diplexer 102 may be coupled to a common node 104-1 of theferrite splitter 104, and a HP node of the diplexer 102 may be coupledto a common node 106-1 of the Wilkinson splitter 106. A first output104-2 of the ferrite splitter 104 may be coupled to a LP node of thediplexer 108, a second output 104-3 of the ferrite splitter 104 may becoupled to a LP node of the diplexer 110, a third output 104-4 of theferrite splitter 104 may be coupled to a LP node of the diplexer 112,and a fourth output 104-5 of the ferrite splitter 104 may be coupled toa LP node of the diplexer 114. A first output 106-2 of the Wilkinsonsplitter 106 may be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer 108, a secondoutput 106-3 of the Wilkinson splitter 106 may be coupled to a HP nodeof the diplexer 110, a third output 106-4 of the Wilkinson splitter 106may be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer 112, and a fourth output106-5 of the Wilkinson splitter 106 may be coupled to a HP node of thediplexer 114. Each of the diplexer 108, diplexer 110, diplexer 112, anddiplexer 114 may include an output port (e.g., OUT-1, OUT-2, OUT-3, andOUT-4, respectively).

In some embodiments, the common node 102-1 may receive an input signalvia the input port IN-1. As described herein, the input signal may be awideband signal having frequencies ranging from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz, orgreater. The diplexer 102 may split the input signal into low-pass andhigh-pass signals 111′, 113′ thorough LP and HP nodes of the diplexer102. In some embodiments, the low-pass signals 111′ (e.g., in the firstfrequency band) may be transmitted to the ferrite splitter 104 via thecommon node 104-1. The high-pass signals 113 (e.g., in the secondfrequency band) may be transmitted to the Wilkinson splitter 106 via thecommon node Wilkinson splitter 106-1.

The ferrite splitter 104 may split the signals 111′ in the firstfrequency band and output the signals via the output ports 104-2, 104-3,104-4, and 104-5 to the LP node of the diplexer 108, the LP node of thediplexer 110, the LP node of the diplexer 112, and the LP node of thediplexer 114, respectively. The Wilkinson splitter 106 may split thesignals 113′ in the second frequency band and output the signals 113′via the output ports 106-2, 106-3, 106-4, and 106-5 to the HP node ofthe diplexer 108, the HP node of the diplexer 110, the HP node of thediplexer 112, and the HP node of the diplexer 114 respectively. Thediplexer 108 may combine the low-pass signals from the output port 104-2and the high-pass signals from the output port 106-2 to form a signal117′ having both the first and second frequency bands, transmitted viathe output port OUT-1. The diplexer 110 may combine the low-pass signals111′ from the output port 104-3 and the high-pass signals 113′ from theoutput port 106-3 to form a signal 115′ having both the first and secondfrequency bands, transmitted via the output port OUT-2. The diplexer 112may combine the low-pass signals 111′ from the output port 104-4 and thehigh-pass signals 113′ from the output port 106-4 to form a signal 119′having both the first and second frequency bands, transmitted via theoutput port OUT-3. The diplexer 114 may combine the low-pass signals111′ from the output port 104-5 and the high-pass signals 113′ from theoutput port 106-5 to form a signal 121′ having both the first and secondfrequency bands, transmitted via the output port OUT-4. In this way, thefour output ports OUT-1, OUT-2, OUT-3, and OUT-4 carry signals 115′,117′, 119′, 121′ with both the first and second frequency band. In someembodiments, the first frequency band may include frequencies from 5 MHzto 1000 MHz, and the second frequency band may include frequencies from1000 MHz to 3000 MHz, or greater. Thus, the wideband splitter 100,described herein, splits the input wideband signal having frequenciesranging from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz, or greater to four output signals 115′,117′, 119′, 121′.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example of a wideband 4-way splitter inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1C,the wideband splitter 100 may include a first coupling unit (e.g., firstdiplexer 102), a first ferrite splitter 104A, a first Wilkinson splitter106A, a second ferrite splitter 104B, a third ferrite splitter 104C, afirst Wilkinson splitter 106A, a second Wilkinson splitter 106B, a thirdWilkinson splitter 106C, a second coupling unit (e.g., second diplexer108), a third coupling unit (e.g., third diplexer 110), a fourthcoupling unit (e.g., fourth diplexer 112), a fifth coupling unit (e.g.,fifth diplexer 114), a sixth coupling unit (e.g., fifth diplexer 116), aseventh coupling unit (e.g., seventh diplexer 118), an eight couplingunit (e.g., eight diplexer 120), and a ninth coupling unit (e.g., ninthdiplexer 122). As further shown in FIG. 1C, an input node (IN-1) of thediplexer 102 may be to a common node 102-1 of the diplexer 102. A LPnode of the diplexer 102 may be coupled to a common node 104A-1 of theferrite splitter 104, and a HP node of the diplexer 102 may be coupledto a common node 106A-1 of the Wilkinson splitter 106. A first output104A-2 of the ferrite splitter 104A may be coupled to a LP node of thediplexer 108, and a second output 104A-3 may be coupled to a LP node ofthe diplexer 110. A first output 106A-2 of the Wilkinson splitter 106Amay be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer 108, and a second output106A-3 may be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer 110. A common node108-1 of the diplexer 108 may be coupled to a common node 112-1 of thediplexer 112, and a common node 110-1 of the diplexer 110 may be coupledto a common node 114-1 of the diplexer 114.

A LP node of the diplexer 112 may be coupled to a common node 104B-1 ofthe ferrite splitter 104B, and a HP node of the diplexer 112 may becoupled to a common node 106B-1 of the Wilkinson splitter 106B. A firstoutput 104B-2 of ferrite splitter 104B may be coupled to a LP node ofthe diplexer 116, and a second output 104B-3 of the ferrite splitter104B may be coupled to a LP node of the diplexer 120. A first output106B-2 of Wilkinson splitter 106B may be coupled to a HP node of thediplexer 116, and a second output 106B-3 of the Wilkinson splitter 106Bmay be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer 120. The diplexer 116 may becoupled to a first output (OUT-1) and the diplexer 120 may be coupled toa second output (OUT-2).

A LP node of the 114 may be coupled to a common node 104C-1 of theferrite splitter 104C, and a HP node of the diplexer 114 may be coupledto a common node 106C-1 of the Wilkinson splitter 106C. A first output104C-2 of ferrite splitter 104C may be coupled to a LP node of thediplexer 118, and a second output 104C-3 of the ferrite splitter 104Cmay be coupled to a LP node of the diplexer 122. A first output 106C-2of Wilkinson splitter 106C may be coupled to a HP node of the diplexer118, and a second output 106C-3 of the Wilkinson splitter 106C may becoupled to a HP node of the diplexer 122. The diplexer 118 may becoupled to a third output (OUT-3) and the diplexer 122 may be coupled toa fourth output (OUT-4).

The common node 102-1 may receive an input signal via the input portIN-1. As described herein, the input signal may be a wideband signalhaving frequencies ranging from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz, or greater. Thediplexer 102 may split the input signal into low-pass and high-passsignals 111″, 113″ thorough LP and HP nodes of the diplexer 102. In someembodiments, the low-pass signals 111″ (e.g., in the first frequencyband) may be transmitted to the ferrite splitter 104A via the commonnode 104A-1. The high-pass signals 113″ (e.g., in the second frequencyband) may be transmitted to the Wilkinson splitter 106A via the commonnode Wilkinson splitter 106A-1.

The ferrite splitter 104A may split the signals 111″ in the firstfrequency band and output the signals 111″via the output ports 104A-2and 104A-3 to the LP node of the diplexer 108 and the LP node of thediplexer 110, respectively. The Wilkinson splitter 106A may split thesignals in the second frequency band 113″ and output the signals 113″via the output ports 106A-2 and 106A-3 to the HP node of the diplexer108 and the HP node of the diplexer 110, respectively. The diplexer 108may combine the low-pass signals 111″ from the output port 104A-2 andthe high-pass signals 113″ from the output port 106A-2 to form a signal115″ having both the first and second frequency bands, and transmit thesignal 115″ to the common node 112-1 of the diplexer 112. The diplexer110 may combine the low-pass signals 111″ from the output port 104A-3and the high-pass signals 113″ from the output port 106A-3 to form asignal 117″ having both the first and second frequency bands, andtransmit the signal 117″ to the common node 114-1 of the diplexer 114.

The diplexer 112 may split the signal 115″ from the common port 112-1 tothe first and second frequency bands (e.g., low and high frequencybands) and transmit the low-frequency signals 111″ to the ferritesplitter 104B and transmit the high-frequency signals 113″ to theWilkinson splitter 106B. The ferrite splitter 104B may split thelow-frequency signals 111″ to the diplexer 116 and diplexer 120 via theoutput ports 104B-2 and 104B-3, respectively. The Wilkinson splitter106B may split the high-frequency signals 113″ to the diplexer 116 anddiplexer 120 via the output ports 106B-2 and 106B-3, respectively. Thediplexer 116 may combine the low-frequency signals 111″ and thehigh-frequency signals 113″, received from the ferrite splitter 104B andthe Wilkinson splitter 106B and output the combined signal 119″ viaOUT-1. The diplexer 120 may combine the low-frequency signals and thehigh-frequency signals, received from the ferrite splitter 104B and theWilkinson splitter 106B and output the combined signal 121″ via OUT-2.

The diplexer 114 may split the signal 117″ from the common port 114-1 tothe first and second frequency bands (e.g., low and high frequencybands) and transmit the low-frequency signals 111″ to the ferritesplitter 104C and transmit the high-frequency signals 113″ to theWilkinson splitter 106C. The ferrite splitter 104C may split thelow-frequency signals 111″ to the diplexer 118 and diplexer 112 via theoutput ports 104C-2 and 104C-3, respectively. The Wilkinson splitter106C may split the high-frequency signals 113″ to the diplexer 118 anddiplexer 122 via the output ports 106C-2 and 104C-3, respectively. Thediplexer 118 may combine the low-frequency signals 111″ and thehigh-frequency signals 113″, received from the ferrite splitter 104C andthe Wilkinson splitter 106C and output the combined signal 123″ viaOUT-3. The diplexer 122 may combine the low-frequency signals 111″ andthe high-frequency signals 113″, received from the ferrite splitter 104Cand the Wilkinson splitter 106C and output the combined signal 125″ viaOUT-4. In this way, the wideband splitter 100 of FIG. 1C splits a singlewideband input signal (e.g., ranging from frequencies of approximately 5MHz to 3000 MHz or greater) into four wideband output signals 119″,121″, 123″, 125″.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graph of example performance measurements of thewideband splitter illustrated in FIG. 1A. More specifically, the graph200 illustrates through loss between ports 1, 2, and 3, and return lossof ports 1, 2, and 3 of the wideband splitter 100 of FIG. 1 at operatingfrequencies ranging from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz. As described herein, port 1refers to the input port IN-1 of the wideband splitter 100, port 2refers to the output port OUT-1 of the wideband splitter 100, and port 3refers to the output port OUT-2 of the wideband splitter 100. In thegraph 200, the notation “s21” (or element 150) refers to the throughloss from port 2 to port 1 of the wideband splitter 100 of FIG. 1 (i.e.,the through loss from OUT-1 to IN-1). The notation “s31” (or element152) refers to the through loss from port 3 to port 1 of the widebandsplitter 100 of FIG. 1 (i.e., the through loss from OUT-2 to IN-1). Thenotation “s11” (or element 154) refers to the return loss at port 1(i.e., the return loss at IN-1). The notation “s22” (or element 156)refers to the return loss at port 2 (i.e., the return loss at OUT-1).The notation “s33” (or element 158) refers to the return loss at port 3(i.e., the return loss at OUT-1).

As shown in the graph 200, the through loss between port 2 and port 1and port 3 and port 1 is relatively low, at approximately 3 decibels(dB) from 5 MHz to 3000 MHz. That is, the wideband splitter 100 splitsthe input signal into two output ports with relatively low through loss,or a relatively low level of signal strength degradation. As furthershown in the graph 200, the return loss at the ports 1, 2, and 3, isrelatively high (e.g., greater than approximately 20 dB across 5 MHz to3000 MHz). As such, the wideband splitter 100 performs at a high levelacross a wide frequency band ranging from, for example, 5 MHz to 3000MHz.

FIG. 3 illustrates a layout of an example power divider that may be usedin accordance with of aspects of the present disclosure. Morespecifically, FIG. 3 illustrates a layout of a 4-stage Wilkinson powerdivider 300 that may be used to split an input signal across a frequencyband (e.g., ranging from 300 MHz to 1800 MHz). As shown in FIG. 3, thepower divider 300 may include a transmission line 160 coupled in a4-stage configuration (e.g., with 4 resistors, 162, 164, 166, 168), withtwo output ports 300-2 and 300-3. In some embodiments, the transmissionline transmits an input signal received at port 300-1 to output ports300-2 and 300-3 across the transmission line and resistors. Theresistors (first resistor 162, second resistor 164, third resistor 166,fourth resistor 168) are provided to match ports 300-1, 300-2, and300-3, and to isolate port 300-2 from port 300-3. As described herein,the power divider of FIG. 3 may provide relatively low through loss andrelatively high return loss for signals split between 300 MHz to 1800MHz, and thus, may be used in conjunction with the wideband splitter100, or as a stand-alone splitter device.

The foregoing description provides illustration and description but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the possible implementationsto the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of the possible implementations. Infact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specificallyrecited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Althougheach dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one otherclaim, the disclosure of the possible implementations includes eachdependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

While the present disclosure has been disclosed with respect to alimited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having thebenefit of this disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications andvariations there from. For example, some components, described as beingseparate pieces or parts, may be integrated into one component.Similarly, one component may be divided into one or more sub-components,pieces, or parts. It is intended that the appended claims cover suchmodifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe disclosure.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described assuch. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include oneor more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Whereonly one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wideband splitter comprising: an input port; a first splitter; a second splitter; a first coupling unit; a second coupling unit; a third coupling unit; a first output port; and a second output port, wherein: the input port is coupled to the first coupling unit and transmits an input signal received at the input port to the first coupling unit; a low-pass node of the first coupling unit is coupled to the first splitter and transmits the input signal at a first frequency band to the first splitter; a high-pass node of the first coupling unit is coupled to the second splitter and transmits the input signal at a second frequency band to the second splitter; the first splitter is coupled to a low-pass node of the second coupling unit and to a low-pass node of the third coupling unit and transmits signals of the first frequency band to the second coupling unit and to the third coupling unit; the second splitter is coupled to a high-pass node of the second coupling unit and to a high-pass node of the third coupling unit and transmits signals of the second frequency band to the second coupling unit and to the third coupling unit; the second coupling unit is coupled to the first output port and combines the signals of the first and second frequency bands received from the first splitter and the second splitter; and the third coupling unit is coupled to the second output port and combines the signals of the first and second frequency bands received from the first splitter and the second splitter.
 2. The wideband splitter of claim 1, wherein the first output port is coupled to the second coupling unit via a common node of the second coupling unit, and the second output port is coupled to the third coupling unit via a common node of the third coupling unit.
 3. The wideband splitter of claim 1, wherein the input signal has a frequency band ranging from approximately 5 megahertz (MHz) to 3000 MHz
 4. The wideband splitter of claim 1, wherein the first frequency band ranges from approximately 5 MHz to 1000 MHz and the second frequency band ranges from approximately 1000 MHz to 3000 MHz and not limited with 3000 MHz.
 5. The wideband splitter of claim 1, wherein the first splitter is a ferrite splitter and the second splitter is a Wilkinson splitter or a Wilkinson power divider.
 6. The wideband splitter of claim 1, wherein: a through split loss between the first output port and the input port is approximately 3.5 decibels (dB); a through split loss between the second output port and the input port is approximately
 3. dB; and return losses at the input port, first output port, and second output port are greater than approximately 15 dB.
 7. A wideband splitter comprising: an input port configured to receive an input signal from a cable television (CATV) network; a first coupling unit configured to receive the input signal and split the input signal into a first single at a first frequency band and a second signal at a second frequency band; a first splitter configured to receive the first signal and split the first signal into a first plurality of output signals; a second splitter configured to receive the second signal and split the second signal into a second plurality of output signals; and a plurality of second coupling units configured to combine the first plurality of output signals and second plurality of output signals.
 8. A wideband splitter comprising: an input port; a first splitter; a second splitter; a first coupling unit; a second coupling unit; a third coupling unit; a first output port; and a second output port, wherein: the input port is coupled to the first coupling unit and transmits an input signal to the first coupling unit; a low-pass node transmits the input signal at a first frequency band to the first splitter; a high-pass node of the first coupling unit transmits the input signal at a second frequency band to the second splitter; the first splitter transmits signals of the first frequency band to the second coupling unit and to the third coupling unit; the second splitter transmits signals of the second frequency band to the second coupling unit and to the third coupling unit; the second coupling unit is combines the signals of the first and second frequency bands received from the first splitter and the second splitter; and the third coupling unit combines the signals of the first and second frequency bands received from the first splitter and the second splitter.
 9. A wideband splitter comprising: an input port configured to receive an input signal; two or more output ports configured to output the input signal, wherein the wideband splitter is capable of splitting the input signal and transmitting the split input signal to the output ports across a frequency band ranging from approximately 5 MHz to 3000 MHz. 